Karl-Anthony Towns had a breakthrough game, helping the Timberwolves secure a win in the Western Conference finals. They’re now heading back to Minnesota, aiming to level the series against Dallas.
Towns scored 20 of his 25 points in the second half, contributing significantly to the Wolves’ 105-100 victory on Tuesday night, preventing a sweep.
Anthony Edwards also played a crucial role with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists. This win keeps the Wolves alive in their first conference finals appearance in two decades, marking just the second time in the franchise’s 35 seasons. Game 5 is set for Thursday night.
Towns, who had struggled with his shooting earlier in the series, bounced back impressively, making 9 of 13 field goals, including four out of five from beyond the arc, despite picking up his fifth foul midway through the third quarter.
Reflecting on his performance, Towns emphasized the importance of being aggressive, especially in a critical game like this.
On the Mavericks’ side, Luka Doncic recorded his sixth triple-double of the playoffs with 28 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists. However, both he and Kyrie Irving struggled with their shooting, going 13 of 39 from the field. Irving, previously undefeated in closeout games, made just one of six attempts from long range and finished with 16 points.
Acknowledging the loss, Doncic took responsibility and admitted to not providing enough energy. He stressed the need to refocus on the upcoming game and not dwell on the setback.
The Wolves have consistently been in the lead during the final five minutes of the fourth quarter in every game of the series, and this time they held on until the end.
Towns made a crucial 3-pointer with 5:41 left, followed by another deep shot on the next possession. His third 3-pointer of the quarter gave Minnesota a six-point lead with three minutes remaining.
Edwards praised Towns for his confidence and exceptional performance, noting that he wasn’t phased by any missed shots prior to his critical plays.
Edwards extended the Wolves’ lead with a jumper just inside the arc with 39 seconds left. Despite fouling Doncic on a made 3-pointer, giving Dallas a chance to narrow the gap to three points, Minnesota managed to hold on.
Doncic missed the subsequent free throw, and Naz Reid scored to increase the margin to five points with 11 seconds remaining.
Dallas coach Jason Kidd acknowledged the difficulty of closing out games in the NBA, especially when his team struggled with their shooting in the second half. He credited Minnesota for their performance.
Towns showcased his rhythm notably in the third quarter, scoring 10 points in the first seven minutes before receiving his fifth foul for elbowing P.J. Washington Jr. in the face while attempting a shot.
The decision against Towns led to a technical foul for Minnesota coach Chris Finch, who has been seated behind the bench since the start of the second round of the playoffs due to a knee injury requiring surgery.
Assistant coach Micah Nori has been active on the sidelines in Finch’s absence. Finch was close to receiving a second technical, which would have led to his ejection, when Edwards was called for his fourth foul while attempting a steal against Daniel Gafford.
Mike Conley, who scored 14 points, emphasized the impact of having Finch on the sidelines, despite his physical limitations. Conley mentioned that Finch’s passionate coaching style, despite his injury, motivated the team.
Towns fouled out in the final two minutes of the game, while Edwards and Rudy Gobert, who contributed 13 points and 10 rebounds, respectively, also finished with five fouls each.
Finch acknowledged the challenges posed by foul trouble but credited the team for finding a way to win the game, likening it to previous matchups. He praised the team’s resilience in securing the victory.
By avoiding a sweep after losing the first three games of the series at home, the Wolves have prevented becoming the 16th team out of 21 to suffer such a fate. Their next goal is to become one of the few teams to extend the series to at least six games.
